Glitter Tuesday Vol 1: Happy Birthday, America!

WOO! It's our nation's birthday, America, so let's take a long weekend and enjoy life!

And if you're not American, please just enjoy the glitter and my first attempt at drawing shapes on my eyes. WHAT? Please keep in mind your QBB is legally blind without her glasses. Double WHAT?

Let me take a moment to divert from the impending awesomeness to tell you how much better this post would've been if a company had shipped in a timely basis. I had planned to start a new series on this blog today that I've been dreaming about and feature the 2 new Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow shadows. And then Stila decided to take over a week to ship order #1. So, I started thinking about the best way to welcome Glitter Tuesdays to QBB, and then BOOM! I had a glittery American flag on my lid. WHOA. I did get them after I completed this look, naturally.

First of all, it takes a small army of products to do something fun:

Let me give you the step by step before I show my first real lid art attempt. Many of the products I used were limited edition, sorry!

1. Prime entire eye area with MAC Paint Pot in Painterly. Set with Kat Von D Bone down to crease, Kat Von D Linen in the crease and lid.

2. Take a small blending brush and work a mixture of Kat Von D Bone and Kat Von D Suede into the crease area to define the eye area.

3. Take NYX Eyeshadow Base in White with a small brush and cut the crease. Apply all over the eye.

4. Set with multiple layers of Kat Von D Linen. Don't stop until it's a bright white canvas. This is what you'll be building on.

5. Pick up a little bit of Giorgio Armani Liquid Eyeshadow in 2 on a tiny brush and pat onto the inner 1/3 of the lid. Build a nice consistent layer.

6. Immediately take a tiny brush and pick up Kat Von D Nebula and pack on top of the blue base.

7. Once that's all set, take a nail dotting tool, sanitize, and pick up a couple of flecks from Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in Diamond Dog to create the "stars".

8. Set up an area with some Too Faced Glitter Glue on a palette, some MAC Fix+, and some Pat McGrath Venom Microfine Glitter. Work with 1 brush to slowly draw part of the straight line across the crease and immediately tap the glitter on. Build the solid line.

9. Repeat to create 2 more lines.

10. Pick up Kat Von D Suede & Bone on a small blender and buff any crease mistakes.

11. Get rid of fallout. Do your undereye concealer. (I used Tarte Shape Tape and set with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light)

12. Do your brows. I use a combo of Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow & Brow Whiz

13. Pick up Tom Ford Eye Defining Pencil in Navy Black. Line upper and lower 1/3. Pick up Sephora Collection Diamond Eyeliner in Swagga and line outer 2/3 upper/lower.

14. Inner corner highlight- MAC Silver Pigment.

15. Finish with L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise.


And here's the look!

Not perfect, but not bad for a first attempt, huh? Keep in mind I'm legally blind without glasses, too!

Now, let's talk what Glitter Tuesdays will be. At least through the end of summer, if there's a post on Tuesday, it'll be a glittery product. Even though I'm in my 30s, I still adore glitter- just not every day. And on America's birthday when I didn't want to post a review, this seemed like a great way to kick off this series... since Stila decided to not cooperate and ship in a timely matter.

Oh, well.  If you've got the day off, enjoy it! If you're an international reader, sorry for any celebrating Americans in your midst. We like to have fun once a year, ok?

Have a wonderful day!

Snow Day Beauty

With so much of the country experiencing snow within the past few days, I thought I'd re-start the blog by bringing you my snow day beauty favorites. This is the exact combination that I wore while shoveling for hours- and why I chose each carefully curated item.  This comes from a lifetime of living in areas with snowy winters- and never having the luxury of a garage/snow blower!

Please note the yummy throw- it may show up from time to time as a background. It seems right since we're talking winter. This picture really was taken by a fireplace (which was in use recently).

1. If you're planning to spend all day digging out in the snow, it's important to pamper your face a little bit more. I upped my moisturizer to L'Occitane's Shea Butter Ultra Rich Comforting Cream ($34, 1.7oz)(sample from last holiday's L'Occitane Advent Calendar) to give just a bit more protection. It has 25% shea butter, which allowed my sensitive skin to deal with the cold elements with nary an issue.

2 + 3. UV protection is a MUST, and you'll be getting a lot more UV (reflection from the snow) than you may estimate. Even though it's winter, protecting your skin is essential. I trotted out my regular daily duo- Chanel UV Essentiale  Complete Sunscreen UV Protection Anti-Pollution Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($55, 1 oz) and Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream SPF 34 ($35.50, 0.6oz). In the time that I've been away from blogging, I have re-dedicated myself to a SPF'd lifestyle. This combo is my HG for use with daily makeup and provides as high of a SPF content as I can find.

4. A light base- I personally love Iope's Air Cushion XP as an awesome cushion compact. It's not available directly for sale online in the US, but it's worth tracking down. I'll post a full review in the coming weeks, as well as more info on how to find the most pale-complexion-friendly cushion compact on the market (IMO).

5. Even though I went au natural for blush and the cushion compact let my freckles (and rosacea) shine through, I have a few spots that I wanted to cover, plus my naturally-occurring dark circles. I could've pulled out my NARS Creamy Concealer, but Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer ($14) has been in my rotation far more often as of late. PS- my NW15ish skin likes shade 01- Bavarian Cream.

6. Right now, my hair is a few shades darker than my natural shade, so filling in my brows is a must or I look silly. I adore my Tom Ford Brow Sculptor ($45) in Chestnut for a quick one-step brow.  (In case you're curious, I love using MAC Cork with some Fix+ for additional coverage.)

7.  This was one of two totally unnecessary steps, but honestly I wanted to test this out after getting a deluxe sample during the holidays. Any totally neutral eye pencil will do, but I wore NUDESTIX Magnetic Eye Color in Angel ($24), a lovely nude shade. It's my eyes but better. It wore decently well while exerting myself, but if I was going to do this over I'd pull out Laura Mercier's Eye sticks.

8. Pick out your favorite waterproof mascara. This is the one that I have open right now, Chanel Le Volume Waterproof Mascara ($32).

9. Your lips will need some pampering. Do it up right with the Rolls Royce of lip balms, By Terry Baume de Rose. I pulled out the special edition from Holiday 2015- the Gold Baume de Rose Parure Lip Balm ($31). It's Baume de Rose with shimmer. It's the best of both worlds- the luxurious lip balm and a glittery gloss.

10. Let's be honest, friends. Shoveling is an awesome cardio workout. Continue smelling awesome with a little bit of perfume oil. I pulled out one of my favorites, Elizabeth and James Nirvana White Perfume Oil ($35).

11. If you're heading out to shovel, or if you're simply taking a halftime break, a great dry shampoo is essential. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo ($28) is my HG and beats the pants off of any other dry shampoo I've tried.

If you want to simplify, simply edit out the mascara and eye pencil. I didn't wear them on the first day that I was shoveling.

What are your snow day beauty must-haves?

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Vapor

Today I'm going to share a limited edition, discontinued Tom Ford Nail Lacquer with you. Vapor was a limited edition release from the Spring 2013 collection, but I actually found it at a CCO (Cosmetics Company Outlet) in June 2014- one of three polishes I was thrilled to stumble upon.

Vapor is a tricky polish. It's a metallic white polish with a decided silver undertone. The whole collection had a metallic edge, but I suspect that Vapor is the most metallic of the three shades.

I have three coats of Vapor plus a topcoat on my nails in this photo:

I'll be honest, this is one that you need absolutely perfect nails to pull off. Even with a ridge-filling base coat, every imperfection in the nail is highlighted by the metallic formula.  This is somewhat similar to Chanel Attraction, but with far more of a silver tone.

September 2014 Favorites

I'm running a bit late for my monthly favorites, but here goes:

Reviews are linked where appropriate; others will be coming very soon.


Eyes:
Giorgio Armani Organica Eye Palette- By far and away my favorite purchase in awhile, possibly of the year. It's perfect, and creates a foolproof look for me.
Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro #3- My new brow obsession.
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Liquid Eyeliner- My new go-to eyeliner pen.


Lips:
NARS Audacious Lipsticks- My new obsession. I can't wait to share these with you. I'm putting my group through their paces.
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. in B*tch Perfect- My new favorite nude.
Lancome Lip Lover 314 Casse Noisette- I'm in love with this formula, and I've been picking up more of the neutral shades lately.


Cheeks:
Chantecaille Cheek Fabric in Bliss- My go-to and perfect cheeks in a palette.
Benefit Rockateur Blush- Perfect for fall, and I don't pull it out often

Nails:

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Black Cherry- My favorite new vampy shade.
Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Bordeaux Lust- I keep going back to this over and over again. It's perfect for my moody nails.
Sephora by OPI Go My Own Way- An old nail polish but one of my favorites. This shade just seems right with my current wardrobe during this month of transition.
Chanel Le Vernis Secret- A lovely, clean nude for fall.
Lancome French Idole Vernis in Love Amethyste Brune- A wonderfully complex, moody purple.
Fragrance:
Si by Giorgio Armani- My transition scent. If I had a better nose for scent, I'd rave about it.


What all did you love last month?

Look out for new posts starting tomorrow!

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad Nude Dip

Let me preface this entire post by stating up front that I normally don't review LE items that are sold out, but I felt like I owed these swatches to everyone since I did go through hoops to get it. Some caveats: No, I don't know where you can you purchase one. I purchased mine through my normal Tom Ford SAs. And no, I'm not looking to sell mine. With that said, please enjoy Tom Ford Eye Color Quad Nude Dip.

I've purchased most of the must-have palettes for this season (this, YSL's Leather Quint, Armani Duo, one of the Chanel quads), and after playing with the coveted Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Nude Dip, I find it both the easiest and the hardest to work with. I'll explain why in a bit.

First, the basics: the Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Nude Dip ($79) contains four neutral shades for a total weight of 0.21oz/6g. It was released in very limited quantities as part of the Fall 2014 color collection and sold out essentially instantly. From what I've read, it's still available outside of the United States, but you're on your own for that.

This formula is workable both wet or dry. The four shadows are housed in the traditional Tom Ford brown casing with gold accents. This palette, like others, comes with its own dustbag.

Nude Dip has 4 nude shades: a champagne, rose gold, taupe, and mid-toned brown. They're all lovely and blendable.

This shot, with flash turned on, shows just how metallic these shades are:

Pigmentation and wear time aren't a problem with this palette, like any other Tom Ford product.

Swatched, in direct sun:

Swatched, outside (indirect light):

Swatched, outside (no flash):

Swatched, with flash:

I find Nude Dip to be problematic not because of the colors. It's a beautifully edited set of neutrals. I don't find it to be problematic due to the formula- it's amazing. I just struggle with the palette as-is at this pricepoint.

Nude Dip would seem to be perfect for work, but it's too shiny/metallic for conservative workplaces. It makes a beautiful neutral eye, but I can only find a few looks from it- not allowing the versatility that I demand from a pricey palette.

I do reach for this when I need a quick neutral eye, and like the formula. I'll keep working with it, but at the highest end of the price spectrum, I shouldn't have to work with it. I have a feeling I'll continue to warm up to it over time.

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer- Bordeaux Lust

This is my most recent Tom Ford polish purchase. I'm not sure why I waited so long, but I adore Bordeaux Lust. I've got 3 coats plus a topcoat on my nails here. Please excuse the awful clean-up job.

It's a perfect wine red along the lines of Chanel Vamp. It's so lovely for fall. Stay tuned for more Tom Ford tomorrow- I'm finally going to finish my mini-reviews of the rest of my purchases from the fall collection.

Color Obsession: Pinky Nude Lips

Although the products that I'm reviewing are all over the board, I've noticed a distinct trend in the lip colors that I'm purchasing and reaching for on a daily basis. Plums and wines may be a huge trend for Fall 2014, but since it's still warm I've been reaching for pinky nude lips.

I recently had the revelation that there are nudes that work well with my immensely pigmented lips. (True story: I had a MUA not believe me that I wasn't wearing a lip product recently before a makeover. Sadly, that's not the first time that it's happened.)

These are all shades that I either have purchased within the last 2 weeks or have been living in my makeup bag (Reviews linked when applicable, others coming soon):

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine 54 Boy
Lipstick Queen Saint Pinky Nude
Bite Lip Gloss Honey
Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Sheers 202 Brown
Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick Pinkberry (in GWP packaging)
Lancome Lip Lover 314 Casse Noisette
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G B*tch Perfect
NARS Lip Color Dolce Vita
Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Intense Nude
Tom Ford Lip Color Indian Rose
Tom Ford Lip Color Casablanca
Tom Ford Lip Color Negligee
Butter London Lippy Tinted Balm Abbey Rose
Lancome Lip Love 322 Beige Adage
NARS Audacious Lipstick Anita
NARS Lip Gloss Dolce Vita


Ever notice you're in a bit of a beauty pattern? I hesitate to call it a rut since there are so many beautiful shades. Also, I didn't realize how few of these had actually been on the blog!

That might give you a sense of why I've been rather quiet- I've got a ton of content and am trying to find the time to swatch, edit, and draft!

Tom Ford Black Cherry Nail Lacquer

It should be no surprise that I'm starting my review of the Tom Ford Fall 2014 items that I purchased with Black Cherry, the lone nail lacquer in the collection.  It was Tom Ford's nail lacquers that first introduced me to the brand. The line retails for $32 each and contains 12ml of polish.

I have three coats plus Seche Vite topcoat on my nails here:

Black Cherry is a darkened red plum that appears black. It's a classic vamp and beautiful for fall. This is such a classy shade and one lovely enough that I'm considering a pro manicure to really get the most out of it. I adore this shade, and it's just warm enough to not look harsh.

Like other Tom Ford Nail Lacquers, this is a glossy shade with incredible wear time. Tom Ford's nail range contains some gel ingredients (per some of their SAs), hence the amazing wear. When I tested it, I felt both way out of season but also incredibly chic. I'll be posting a comparison post with some of my favorite dark shades in the next few days so you can really see the difference.

Black Cherry is currently available at Tom Ford counters, and online at the usual retailers. Unlike Nude Dip and the blush duos, this doesn't seem to be selling out.

I'll have the other pieces of the collection that I purchased soon- the weather has been exceptionally cloudy and un-swatch-friendly over the past week or so. The few times that the sun has been out, I've been at work!

NOTD: Tom Ford Show Me the Pink

Today's NOTD is another stunner from Tom Ford.

First, let's just enjoy the peachy-pink nude gorgeousness in the early morning summer sun. This is what I would call the epitome of nude nail sophisticated chic.

Tom Ford Show Me the Pink was released in Fall 2013, but I only recently found it at a CCO. Yes, limited Tom Ford products do make it to CCO outlets. This beauty hadn't even made it onto the shelves when I nabbed it.

I have three coats plus topcoat on my nails here. It's quite similar to Chanel Emprise, which surprised me. Given the name, I would've pegged it as closer to Chanel Frisson, but it pulled incredibly peach on my hands. Still, I find this to be beautiful and a go-to when I wish to look "grown-up."

What I'm Wearing- Perfumes, Spring 2014

It's only been over the past year that I've noticed that my scent preferences shift dramatically with the seasons.  After going through an entire bottle of Dior Addict Eau Delice, with Flash by Jimmy Choo sprinkled in that I noticed a distinct pivot for spring/summer.

Although I'm not a trend-following scent type of girl, I noticed that I'm right on trend, despite myself.  I've been rotating between three main fragrances this spring.  I don't do perfume reviews for a reason, as my nose lacks the sophistication to pick out different notes and accurately describe them.

Spring Love #1: Tom Ford Private Blend Santal Blush ($210/50ml)

Photo via Nordstrom

I don't own a full-sized bottle of this (yet), but I've been enjoying some deluxe samples I received as a GWP at my Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show in March.  This is the only Private Blend fragrance that I'd feel comfortable wearing to a conservative office. It's soft and feminine, but wears like iron.  I require a lot from my fragrances, and this is one of the few that I can still detect 16 hours later. This fragrance manages to be simultaneously soft and complex. If the other Private Blend fragrances are too powerful for you, I highly recommend this offering.

 
Spring Love #2: Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede Cologne ($60-$115)

Photo via Nordstorm

This purchase is directly attributable to the generosity of a Nordstrom SA. As a part of an order, she threw in a group of Jo Malone fragrance samples. While I enjoyed playing with all of the scents. Peony and Blush Suede stood out to me.  It wasn't a surprise since I have been loving suede fragrances lately.  I think this is lovely, soft, and perfect for spring. I wish it had a little better wear time, but I just throw a sample vial into my makeup bag in the morning and I'm good to go.

Spring Love #3: Balenciaga Rosabotanica ($25-100)

Photo via Nordstrom

This is another example of where sampling works. I got the recent 500pt perk with a deluxe sample of Rosabotanica and fell in love.  I managed to limit myself to just a rollerball during Chic Week, but have been loving roses this spring.  Yes, I know that's right on trend, but really... Rosabotanica just fits my state of mind lately.


What have you been wearing this spring?  Do you rotate your scents?

NOTD: Tom Ford Bitter Bitch

Yes, I know this is way out of season, but I love to mix up my manis with unexpected shades.

I have to smirk at the name of this NOTD.  So many Tom Ford Nail Lacquers are a bit cheeky with their names. Bitter Bitch is a chocolate creme with a flawless formula.  It self-levels, and you don't have to worry about it being patchy at all.

Swatches are with 2 coats, and topcoat.

Tom Ford Summer 2014 Eye and Cheek Compact- Unabashed

I have a treat for you today- my sole selection from Tom Ford's Summer 2014 Collection.  I passed on the two lip products and the Fire Lust Illuminator in favor of the Eye and Cheek Compact in Unabashed.

Tom Ford Summer 2014 Eye and Cheek Compact- Unabashed ($95/0.47oz, limited edition) contains a trio of new eyeshadows, one bronzer, and one new blush shade.

I'll start out by discussing the beautiful compact. It's quite large and covers the entire palm of my hand.  It's substantial and beautiful. I love the large mirror:

It's so polished and beautiful. Like other Tom Ford palettes, it comes with a brown dust bag:

Just to give you a sense of the size of this palette, I've photographed it with my Chanel Travel Makeup Palette and Tom Ford's She Wolf Trio:

Now that I've given you a peek at this beauty, let's look at the compact a little closer. See how it works with the lovely white compact?

The shades are all bold and beautiful:

I'll speak about the individual shades in more detail.

Unabashed #1 is a glittering, warm champagne. Many have compared it to the lightest shade from She Wolf, but I find it to read totally different. This is very warm, and I've found it works well for me as a topper for Unabashed #2.

Unabashed #2 is a mid-toned, warm matte brown. I love this as a full lid color. It's very blendable and workable.

Unabashed #3 is a vivid, matte cobalt blue. This is the shade that scares most people away from the palette. I'm here to say that it's not scary at all.

Unabashed Bronzer is a warm, golden brown that is absolutely perfect for my fair skin. When dusted gently over my face, I get a lovely sun-kissed glow. I don't have another Tom Ford bronzer to compare, but this has piqued my interest.

Unabashed Blush is a lovely rose pink. It's finely milled and beautifully shimmery. It works well with everything else in the palette.

I'll readily admit to staring at this palette for a few days before actually using it. I tested it over the course of three full days when I wasn't at work, and have fallen deeply in love. It was quite intimidating to me at first, but I can see this being a favorite all spring/summer long.

 I have a group swatch to share:

They're all lovely and pigmented. I swatched the She Wolf trio to compare:

It's clear that She Wolf is cooler and taupey, whereas Unabashed is very warm and appropriate for summer.

Here's how I use all five of the shades together: Unabashed #2 as a full lid color, with Unabashed #1 dusted on top of it.  I use Unabashed #3 with a stiff angled eyeshadow brush as a liner color.  I rarely give you an eye pic, but here's a good look:

I wear the Unabashed blush gently dusted, and a light hand of Unabashed bronzer all over for a warm, summery look.  This palette is appropriate as a single piece to travel with, and I can see it being incredibly useful. The pricepoint is a bit high, but it's a good way to try a number of Tom Ford products. I've fallen in love with it, and am thinking that a blush purchase will be in my future based on my experience with Unabashed.


Unfortunately, it appears that this is mostly sold out online. However, I'm going to let you in on a secret: Tom Ford now has an online presence, and it was available (very last item under Beauty) as of the writing of this review yesterday late afternoon.  Also, don't forget to call around to counters if you're really looking for the item.

Coming Soon to QBB: Summer 2014!

I just wanted to give you a quick peek at some items that I've recently received and will be featuring on the blog soon.  Despite the weather, it seems that we've gone straight past spring into Summer 2014!


Butter London Lolly Brights Collection:

Ladybird, Sozzled, and Wink Eye Pencil- Holland Park


Laura Mercier New Attitude Collection:

Lip Gels: Clementine, Flushed, Heartbreaker, Temptation


And finally.... Tom Ford Summer 2014 Collection:

The Eye and Cheek Compact- Unabashed.

So while this blog has gone mad for Burberry, there are other brands in my life that I'll be bringing to you soon.